Colourful railcar caravans brightened the countryside on the tracks of the Great Sandhills Railway and Great Western Railway shortlines July 11 to 15, as members of the North American Railcar Operators Association from Canada and the US converged in southwest Saskatchewan for five days of short-line rail touring.
About 25 vintage railcars, also known as motor cars or speeders, chartered three local short-line railways for a total of three sold-out excursions.
"We're all up here having a great time," said Michael Ford, Excursion Coordinator, as he assisted with loading the tiny railcars onto or into their various trailers at the end of the two-day Cantuar-Burstall run July 13.
"We've got people from all over the United States and Canada. From Canada we have the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba represented. From the United States, we've got people from California, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan."
"It's hard work," admitted one woman as she hauled her overnight bags from her railcar to her truck, but ‘speeder' enthusiasts ride the rails less traveled by and love it, photographing North American railway history and wildlife habitats from seldom seen perspectives.
The excursions also bring a little tourist revenue to small towns along each line and some profile-raising press coverage for the railways that agree to host them.
"I try to set the limit at 25 cars because that makes a reasonably-sized group to help cover expenses and yet not too big on the railroad," explained Ford, "because even when we're running 25 cars it spreads you out about two miles. You need 100 or so yards in between for stopping distance."
The popular Southwest Saskatchewan excursions sold out quickly, and all three have waiting lists for next year.
"It was a pretty popular run and coming up here was pretty good. We were able to put a lot of runs together so it was nice," Ford said. "We were over in Elrose Monday, we did this [Great Sandhills Railway] line for two days and now we're headed to Assiniboia on the Great Western Railway for two days, so we got five days of rail travel in a row, plus we had some the prior week, so very little driving time and a lot of rail time."
Rail time is what it's all about.
"This rail is in very good shape," observed Ford. "There's a few spots where the ground's gotten mushy with all the rain and water, but it's not unlike any other railroad we've been on up this way. We had two days in North Dakota actually cancel because of flooding. We had to do some quick scurrying and found a line in Manitoba to run last week. They bailed us out."
What kind of people think railcar excursions are a great way to spend time together and see the countryside? Mike and Carol of Michigan have logged a lot of miles every summer in their motorhome and railcar, and their three cats travel with them.
Miss Dollie and Rosita are Ragdolls and Samantha is a Himalayan. When Mike and Carol aren't riding the rails - or the roads between excursions - they're taking Miss Dollie to visit patients in hospices in Michigan. From October to April, they live in Florida and take Miss Dollie to visit hospices there as well.
"You would not believe sometimes the happy smile, and the family also gets all excited," recalled Carol. "But they have to like cats, and not be allergic."
Miss Dollie is a veteran of hospice visitations. "We have been doing that since before she was a year old. She knows what she's supposed to do because we have a little cat stroller. She sits in there and as soon as we unzip it she jumps right up into bed with people and just snuggles with them."
This is unusual, because at home Miss Dollie is not a lap kitty. "She doesn't sit on our lap at home, but anybody else in hospice, when she goes, I don't know if it's the hospice smell she recognizes or what. She just loves them up.
"They love to travel. Just love to travel, and then I don't have to worry about them at home, or put them in a kennel."
The cats draw the line at open-aired railcar excursions, however.
